[Usefulness of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in alcohol-elated problems].
BACKGROUND
Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT) is a new marker for excessive alcohol drinking. It appears to be useful to detect alcoholism, harmful consumption and relapse. It have been introduced in our country recently.


METHODS
Recent studies about utility of CDT have been reviewed.


RESULTS
Sensitivity and specificity of CDT level as a marker of alcoholism were 72-97% and 31-81% respectively. As a marker of harmful consumption its sensitivity was 15-69% and its sensitivity was higher than 82%. CDT was demonstrated to be a effective maker for evaluating alcoholic abstinence in alcoholic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
CDT determinations have a high specificity for screening heavy drinking in different settings. Problems related to its sensitivity are discussed.
Rubio Valladolid
G
G
Departamento de Psiquiatría, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid.
Martínez Ruiz
M
M
D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin
Utilidad de la transferrina deficiente en carbohidratos en los problemas por uso de alcohol.